Sometimes it's nice to not be a fan because you don't have too many expectations at a concert. Then, you are hardly ever disappointed, and you also don't stand in awe when the man appears.

That, however, was not the case when a small group of us were invited to meet Gordon 'Sting'' Sumner before his show in Bukit Jalil last Tuesday.

When Sting appeared in his black pin-striped suit, there was a sudden hush.

Relaxed, stylish and ever-obliging, the superstar spent half an hour, chatting with each one in the room backstage and signing all kinds of mementos including sketches and portraits of him (one apparently to be presented to the Prime
Minister later).

Soon enough, the sacred half-hour was over.

For the record, Sting sounded far better at Bukit Jalil than he did in the Lion City where there was this feeling that he was somewhat tired, and rushing through some songs, especially the hits from his Police days.

In KL, he was far more composed and relaxed, each and every chart-buster coming across in a confident groove, and this was evident especially in his fourth song as he lulled the crowd with a quiet 'shhhh' as he plucked his way on requinto on 'Dead Man's Rope', commanding pin-drop silence throughout the song.

Sting had himself a marvellous Malaysian crowd that night, for while they paid quiet respect to all his ballads, they sure knew how to stand up and groove along to his more powerful chart-busters.

Unlike many stars who have songs composed for them, Sting was there in his own element. The songs were all his, straight from the heart, and like he said in his interview, the week before: ''I can't just wake up and start writing at nine in the morning. I need to be inspired.''

These were the songs that came from inspiration over the last 25 years, songs about loves won and lost, misfortune, hope, and even disasters like the 9-11 crash in New York.

Sting kept his show jovial and didn't say a word about the recent tsunami tragedy during the two-hour concert, but when this 'Sacred Love' World Tour is over this month, he would have helped to raise more than RM5 million for relief efforts from his performances.

Back at the concert, he had some advice for everyone: ''Be yourself no matter what they say.''

And there were roars of recognition with the intro to every song. The great thing about the Stinger at his concert was that he allowed each and every one in his band flirt with the spotlight.

That's the heart of the man who once spearheaded The Police, then went solo and sophisticated, and is now planning to come full circle and strip his band and music right down to the basics for a tour of US universities and colleges that kicks off in April.

Talking to him, there is a feeling that he just wants and needs to chill out during this coming tour; to find himself, learn who he is at this point of his life and career, discover what makes him angry these days, and hopefully find the inspiration that will fire him to create more fields of gold.
(c) New Straits Times by Errol de Cruz

After an 11-year wait, Sting fans in Malaysia got to see ''the Englishman in Kuala Lumpur'' last night.

Holding court at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil for almost two hours, the music icon performed classic songs - from his rock band The Police days - as well as new tracks from his seventh solo studio album, 'Sacred Love', to an appreciative 6,000-strong audience.

Some of the songs performed were 'Englishman in New York', 'Message in a Bottle', 'Sacred Love', 'Fragile', 'Desert Rose', 'Roxanne' and everyone's favourite, 'Every Breath You Take'.

Before introducing his band members, Sting, whose real name is Gordon Sumner, welcomed the KL crowd by saying ''Selamat petang'' (Good Evening) and ''Apa khabar semua? (How are you all?)''